From looking at this photo it looks like Aquarium Pharm may have changed the colors on their nitrate test? Could that be possible? Has anyone purchased one recently?

That would make me so happy since telling those reds apart is almost impossible! Now, if they would just make it so the tests that require two liquids would run out at the same time we'd be in fishkeeping heaven!

Or maybe this just an old picture...

Dang, or maybe that bottom card is the nitrate one...top one is nitrite, second one high range ph, then ph, then ammonia. Dang it!

Yah, the bottom one's nitrate..

Phooey, I was So excited! Someone can delete this if they want... *goes off to hide in a corner*

Well, it's not such an unrealistic expectation.
Someone posted here a few months back to say they'd complained to AP that their Nitrate test is impossible to read and AP replied that they were considering improving it.
Please let it be before we've all lost the will to live........

You truly made me "lol" with that one! Wouldn't it be loverly if they did that though? I have pretty good vision but for people who don't I imagine it is even more difficult. I end up running around the house asking everyone, "Which red do you think this is?" I have trouble with nitrates so they are almost always higher than they should be, but I like to know HOW high darn it!

As soon as they do change it, it would be a good announcement to pin!

I have the API freshwater and saltwater test kits.I agree the results are sometimes difficult to determine that is why I also use the tetratest 5 in 1 test strips as they tend to give me a better idea of what is going on.

I vaguely remember they said it would be changed around May.. or was it March.. either way, it should have been done a while ago. We should start comlaining again.

Ohm they actually SAID they were going to change them?!? I didn't even know that! I just go by the "if they are red at all they are too high", but it would be nice to have numbers. I think I'll write to them. Because that would be

Yep, once it goes above 40pmm, it's anybodies guess what the reading is. I too have tried reading them in sunlight, outdoors in the shade against a white background, under flourescents, etc, etc, etc ... what a pain in the butt!

i am going to go out and buy that test today ill tell you if its any easier to read

If you are going out to get one you might want to get one at petsmart and check out the link I will paste below . In the store pet smart wants $28 for a master kit but online they are asking $14. If you print the add with the pet smart banner on top and make sure the price is showing the store will match the price. The master test kit is the third one on the list.
http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_det...&N=2030152&Ne=2

yeah i already had thay printed out at half price who couldnt afford to thanks anyway though

oh yeah and it was pretty clear for me to read

My eyes must be getting old ,cause with the nitrate one ( not the nitrite) it is sometimes difficult to differentiate between the colors

What was your reading ilovefish? It's clear enough if the reading is below 40ppm.

yea the reading was 20 ppm and everything else was perfect i did find that the nitrate was a little hard to read but i always use a flash light and shine it through the test tube against the white and it is more clear so you should try that i really meant it was clearer than my friends test kit because i had never had one before i dont know what brand it was because she didnt have the box but it was almost impossible to read so compared to hers it was easy to read.

i guess i should have been more specific(sorry)

Just pulled out Nitrate test result card from my new test kit.Is this updated one or not as this is first API kit I have used.

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n228/Ra...tresultcard.jpg

Excuse pic quality was hard to line up in scanner so its kinda squint

Yep, I agree that one's a booger to read! What were they thinkin' with those shades being SO close? Hope that gets changed as mentioned earlier!!

I have e-mailed them before, they said they were working on a change. If I can find the e-mail I will post the text. I hope that it changes before I have to buy my next test kit...

Here it is!! Took some searching thru my deleted e-mails but here goes...


Message was dated 04/12/06

Thank you very much for contacting us regarding our products. All of your comments and questions are valuable. We use your feedback to create the most effective line of aquarium and pond products available.

We are currently in the process of changing our color cards. The lower levels on the card are a little easier to decipher. I would increase the water changes to every 4-5 days to drop the level. This will aid in presenting an accurate result of your level and aid in fish health. Check your tap water as it can be a source of nitrate and will increase the levels in your tank over time with increased water changes. If the levels are around 160 ppm you may want to use a Nitrazorb pouch as this will remove some nitrate from your aquarium.

If you have any other questions or wish to discuss this further, please email back or give us a call at 1-800-847-0659.

To receive email notification about our new product releases, hot fishkeeping tips and our latest reference center updates, please click here <http://www.aquariumpharm.com/nlsignup.html>

Best Regards,
Nathan Fekula
Technical Service and Research
Aquarium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Mars Fishcare Group

So much depends on what chemical telltales they are using for the color readings. It is not always easy to find ones that give definative colors. It mostly becomes a matter of concentration giving more or less color to the readings.

The way I look at it, anytime the nitrate color gets red enough that it no longer is a discernable orange, then the nitrates are too high and a large water change is in order.